THE Ulster Orchestra new season opens next Friday with a concert featuring the dazzling talents of pianist Stephen Hough performing Brahms's dramatic Piano Concerto No 2 under the direction of conductor Daniele Rustioni.
The new season will also find Rustioni, who will continue to work with the Orchestra for a further two years as music director, conducting Haydn's The Creation, performed with Belfast Philharmonic Choir, Bruckner's Seventh Symphony, Respighi's Pines of Rome and more.
"The Ulster Orchestra family welcomed me from my very first day, and it feels very special and natural to now become the music director of this cultural jewel," said Rustioni.
"Our recent BBC Prom together confirmed our unique bond through the highest level of music making at the world's premier classical festival and we have so many wonderful plans in the next years for all of you. I look forward to sharing fabulous symphonic concerts and broadcasts together."
Ulster Orchestra managing director Richard Wigley said: "The news of Daniele becoming our music director and extending his contract to 2024 fulfils the highest ambitions we all share.
"Daniele is an international superstar and he is also one of us; we couldn't be more pleased that he has committed to Northern Ireland at a time when he can choose to go anywhere in the world.
"On a personal note, I have now known Daniele for almost two decades and it is so good to be able to share his shining talent and magic across NI and beyond. The concerts with Daniele and the Orchestra are rapidly becoming legend – there's never been a better time to join us."
Stephen Hough is the first of many guests across the new Ulster Orchestra season, which will also include pianists Steven Osborne and Simon Trp?eski, violinists Francesca Dego and Rosanne Philippens, rising star horn player Ben Goldscheider and oboeist Nicholas Daniel.
March 10 2023 will see the Orchestra premiering a new work for cello and the West African kora, performed by musicians Abel Selaocoe and Seckou Keita.
The Season also celebrates stars from much closer to home as Belfast-born Barry Douglas makes a welcome return to perform Britten's Piano Concerto and Northern Ireland resident Michael Collins performs a new work by Judith Bingham, while soloists for both Handel's Messiah and Haydn's The Creation will be drawn from across Ireland.
A very special evening of music written by Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy will explore place, memory and family in another brand new commission for the Orchestra.
Every year, the Ulster Orchestra extends invitations to talented guest conductors: this season's guest maestros will include Tianyi Lu, Gabriel Bebe?elea and Jamie Phillips, alongside honorary principal guest conductor Jac van Steen.
There will be another series of touring On Your Doorstep concerts, while The Ulster Orchestra's Pops series will also return at the Waterfront Hall, with nights devoted to film music in Oscar Winners (February 4), Worlds of Fantasy – an evening of music from film, TV, gaming and anime (March 25) and Symphonic Soul and Motown (May 6) with special after-show disco.
The Ulster Orchestra's Halloween Howler! will happen in October, while this year's series of festive concerts will include Handel's Messiah, The Snowman family concerts and a night of seasonal favourites, The Magic of Christmas
The latest of the Ulster Orchestra's Salon Sessions digital series is now available on the their YouTube channel. In the Beginnings is a collaboration with local writer Jan Carson, where she looks back at her school days and her inspirational headteacher. View it now at youtube.com/user/UlsterOrchestra.
:: For tickets and full details of all events, see ulsterorchestra.org.uk
